Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they ignored the advice of Bedfordshire Fire Service to install sprinklers at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre.

Lord Rooker: The Minister responsible took advice not only internally but also from a number of fire services. Another removals centre was designed and built in the South East at the same time as Yarl's Wood and the advice from the local fire service was that sprinklers were not necessary. It was therefore decided that a review of fire safety precautions and the use of sprinklers should be conducted before any final decisions were made on the use of sprinklers in removals centres.

Historical Documents: Release to Public Record Office

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 27 February (WA246), what are the criteria agreed with the Security Service for the release of historical documents to the Public Record Office; and which of these criteria would justify the continuing withholding of public access to the MI5 records relating to Nazi war crimes already released into the public domain in the United States under the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act 1998.

Lord Rooker: In a reply on 3 February 1999 in the other place, the then Home Secretary, Jack Straw, accepted in full the recommendations in the report to him on The Review of Security Service Selection Criteria by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Woolf, as chairman and on behalf of the Advisory Council on Public Records. The Home Secretary also placed a copy of that report in their Library. For the convenience of the Members of this House, I have arranged for a copy of that report to be put in our Library.
	The criteria for extended closure of records is set out in full in the Public Record Office publication Access to Public Records, Second Edition, September 2000. This publication is available via the Internet at the address: http://www.pro.gov.uk/recordsmanagement/access/Access2.htm. I understand that the Security Service did not open files on war criminals as such, as its concern was with Nazi espionage, sabotage, subversion and the like. At the end of the Second World War, the service shared with the United States authorities the reports of its interrogations of German intelligence officers and agents. Most of these reports, and their associated records, have been released to the Public Record Office. Only a few of these records also related to war crimes and all of those so far found have been released. Within the limits of its resources, the service has helped those with a particular interest in history to review specific records selected for release. The noble Lord may wish to write to the service giving details of the records he has in mind.

Data Interception: Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are any technical difficulties that are delaying full implementation of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Lord Rooker: We intend to implement the remaining provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 as set out in my reply of 13 February (Official Report, col. WA 148).

Data Interception: Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they are currently giving to Internet service providers as to what technical measures they have to take to comply with the data interception provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Lord Rooker: The Government intend to lay an order before Parliament shortly setting out the generic requirements that communications service providers (CSPs) will be expected to meet if they are required to maintain an interception capability under Section 12 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000. Public consultation on the draft order has taken place. If the order is approved by Parliament, the Government will then enter detailed discussions with individual CSPs before notices under this order are served on them.

Data Interception: Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in assessing the cost of Internet service providers' compliance with the data interception provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and whether they have determined what proportion of that cost will be contributed by the Government.

Lord Rooker: In accordance with Section 14 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA 2000) arrangements will be put in place to ensure that communications service providers (CSPs) receive a fair contribution towards the costs incurred in relation to complying both with the issue of interception warrants and with Section 12 notices. Consultation is continuing to assess how government will apportion their contribution to the costs incurred.
	In addition, as my noble friend Lord Bassam of Brighton announced during RIPA's passage, funds are available to assist in developing capability for the interception of traffic transmitted as Internet protocol or, exceptionally, the installation of a new intercept capability to meet the demands of new technology.

Data Retention: Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many meetings they have held to date with (a) the Information Commissioner and (b) affected communications service providers as to the Code of Practice on data retention provided for in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

Lord Rooker: My officials have met the Office of the Information Commissioner on three occasions to discuss data retention policy. This work is supported by on-going formal correspondence. We have met representatives of affected communications service providers (CSPs) on a further three occasions, and are using a dedicated project group of the Internet Crime Forum, which has met twice this year, to take forward consultation on Internet provider (IP) data retention.

Prison Population: Ethnicity

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the number of people of black African, black Caribbean and Asian ethnic origins in prison are in proportion to the numbers of such people in the population at large; and whether they indicate any evidence of racism within the police or judiciary.

Lord Rooker: In mid-2000, 2 per cent of prisoners were of black African ethnic origin compared to 0.8 per cent of the population of England and Wales; 7.5 per cent of prisoners were of black Caribbean origin compared to 1 per cent representation in the population as a whole; and 2.5 per cent of prisoners were Asian compared to 3.5 per cent in the population at large.
	It is not possible to be certain of the causes of disproportionality between the prison and population figures.
	The annual Home Office publication, Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System, provides a point of reference on ethnicity data.

Mr Colin May

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what date Mr Colin May of Erith made his complaint against the police for assault.

Lord Rooker: The commissioner informs me that the Metropolitan Police Service first became aware that Mr May was considering pursuing a civil action on 28 September 2001. This was as a result of his solicitor writing to their Directorate of Legal Services.

Mr Colin May

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For how long the Police Complaints Authority has been supervising the investigation into the complaint made by Mr Colin May of Erith; and
	Whether in the light of the wider evidence available they will call for an early resolution to the inquiries in the case of Mr Colin May of Erith.

Lord Rooker: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police informs me that this case was referred to the Police Complaints Authority on 26 October 2001. The PCA expect the investigation to be concluded by the end of April.

Mr Colin May

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For how long a police officer has been suspended from duty in the case of the complaint by Mr Colin May of Erith; and what has been the cost to the Kent Constabulary of remunerating the police officer concerned during this period.

Lord Rooker: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police informs me that one police officer has been suspended since 5 November 2001. There has been no cost to Kent Constabulary. The cost to the Metropolitan Police of remunerating this officer is so far £11,952.

Veterans Initiative

Baroness Serota: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been achieved by the Government's Veterans Initiative since it was launched a year ago.

Lord Bach: Since the announcement of the Veterans Initiative and the appointment of my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence as Minister for Veterans Affairs one year ago, we have made substantial progress towards meeting the objective of the iniative: to build-up a partnership with veterans' organisations and other government departments to develop an integrated response to veterans concerns, focused in particular on the most vulnerable.
	We have been considering how we can improve the service offered to our veterans from within the department. Capitalising on the transfer of the War Pensions Agency to the Ministry of Defence in June of last year and on its excellent record for customer-service, we have decided that the War Pensions Agency should provide a special focus for our support to veterans and that accordingly, with effect from 2 April, it should be renamed the Veterans Agency. As a first step towards giving substance to this change of name, the Veterans Agency will, from the end of this month, provide an integrated web-site and free-phone helpline that will be the first point of contact for veterans seeking advice and information. For the longer term, we will also be looking at the future development of the War Pensioners Welfare Service, and in particular at the possibility of expanding partnerships with the charitable sector to improve the support delivered in this area by offering a better co-ordinated service.
	Working through the Veterans Forum and Ministerial Task Force, we have agreed an action plan and nine working groups, made up jointly of representatives of the veterans' community and of interested government departments to take work forward. These are now addressing the particular concerns identified within the initiative's core themes of partnership, identity, recognition and care. This work includes developing new resettlement training for the most vulnerable of our service leavers who are at greatest risk of social exclusion, the development of material for the new key stage 3 and 4 scheme for citizenship to be part of the national curriculum from September 2002, improving communication between government and veterans, recognition of veterans' achievements in more recent years and problems faced by the veterans charities' care home. The working groups will be reporting their progress to my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence in time for the next meeting of the Veterans Forum and the Ministerial Task Force in April and May respectively.
	We are also taking steps to address two of the particular concerns that veterans have raised about the war pensions scheme. From this April, the provisions for war widowers will be equalised to bring them fully into line with those currently available to war widows. Further, we plan to introduce measures from August that will guarantee that a war pensioner can return to unemployability supplement within the first 12 months of starting work.
	We place a particular premium on the partnership that we have been building with the representatives of the veterans organisations and are pleased to acknowledge the considerable part that their positive response has played in enabling us to take this initiative forward. We look forward to building on this partnership to develop and deliver a significant programme of further improvements for the future.

Schools: Race Equality Policy

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect all schools to have an admissions statement relating to the ethnic mix of their communities and to provide a record of the ethnic origin of each child.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: By 31 May 2002 all maintained schools are required to have a written race equality policy in place and arrangements for meeting their duties for assessing and monitoring the impact of their policies on pupils, staff and parents from different racial groups.
	Admission authorities, including foundation and voluntary aided schools, are required to monitor school admissions. If this monitoring reveals that the ethnic make-up of a community is not reflected by admissions to a school, the admissions authority should review why this is the case and consider whether its policies need to be changed in order to promote equality of opportunity.

London Congestion Charging: Disabled People

Lord Campbell of Croy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they possess powers to ensure that satisfactory arrangements for disabled people are included in any plans for imposing financial charges on motor vehicles entering central London.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We recognise the enormous importance of personal mobility for many disabled people. There is an appropriate regulation-making power in the Greater London Authority Act 1999, Schedule 23, paragraph 11. We have given a public assurance that if the London congestion charging scheme is introduced ahead of the national regulations, and if those regulations require concessions greater than those in the scheme, the Mayor and Transport for London will be given adequate time to bring its scheme into line with national requirements.

Government Departments: Internal Investigations

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement on 26 February by Lord Falconer of Thoroton that "whether it is appropriate to publish the results [of the investigation] will depend on the results" (HL Deb, col. 1355), in what circumstances it would be (a) appropriate, and (b) inappropriate to publish the results of the internal investigation into the actions of civil servants in the press office of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The way in which the results of an investigation are handled will depend on the findings. Where an investigation leads to action being taken against an individual the results may become public. It would not be fair on individuals concerned if the results of an inconclusive investigation were made public.

Government Departments: Internal Investigations

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they established the internal investigation into the actions of civil servants within the press office of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; how many civil servants were involved; the dates on which they were interviewed; and whether they will publish the relevant guidelines for the procedure and the outcome to such a departmental investigation.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: On 15 February the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions instigated an internal investigation into the leaks which apparently took place from the department between 11 and 14 February. The investigation has been carried out by the department's security officer on the basis of existing central advice and guidance on the conduct of leak inquiries. Around 10 civil servants have been interviewed as part of this process. Interviews took place between 20 and 26 February 2002. Reports on internal investigations and the associated guidance, which is protectively marked, are not published.

Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Employment of Finsbury

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the employment of the public relations firm, Finsbury, by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions was carried out on a competitive basis; and, if so, how may other companies were assessed for suitability.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Finsbury was originally engaged by SSSB, the department's financial adviser, on its own account, to assist it in its work as the department's banking adviser.
	At the end of December 2001, it was decided to extend Finsbury's invovlement. It now works direct to the department. The extension of Finsbury's involvement was by single tender in view of the knowledge and expertise it had accumulated at that stage.

Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Employment of Finsbury

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For what term the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has employed Finsbury, a public relations firm; and whether the contract is renewable.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Finsbury has contributed to the work of the team dealing with Railtrack in administration since October 2001, initially under contract to SSSB, the department's financial adviser, and latterly directly for the department. The current arrangement is due to be reviewed at the end of March.

Local Government Finance: Distribution

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will pubish a Bill on the new arrangements for the distribution of local government finance.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government will introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows to implement the reforms in our recent White Paper Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services. Reform of the system for distributing formula grant is not dependent on new legislation.

Local Authorities: Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total amount of money for 2002–03 that has been allocated to local authorities to commence work on the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; and
	On what basis they have divided any money allocated among highway authorities for the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; whether it was by length of rights of way network within each authority, open access land to be brought into use by the public or on another basis; and, if so, what that basis is.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The overall costs of the new rights of way responsibilities in the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 were estimated to be up to £19 million. We took this into account when setting the level of general grant for local authorities for the coming financial year in the Spending Review 2000. We also added £0.754 million to the general grant for 2002–03 through the Local Government Finance Settlement to reimburse councils for the costs of local access forums. General grant is distributed to councils through standard spending assessments (SSA) which take account of various broad social and economic factors such as population. Local authorities' responsibilities under the CROW Act 2000 are within the Environmental Protective and Cultural Services SSA Block. This increased by £360 million (4.2 per cent) between 2001–02 and 2002–03, substantially more than inflation.

Goods Vehicles

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the appropriate authorities have successfully used the provisions of the Transport Act 2000 to impound illegally operated goods vehicles; and, if so, whether they believe that this will improve road safety.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Vehicle Inspectorate has used the provisions in the Transport Act 2000 to detain 11 goods vehicles operated without the required operator's licence. One of the main purposes of the operator licensing system is to improve road safety. Penalising those who choose to operate outside the system therefore strengthens road safety.

Goods Vehicles

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it would be desirable to allow commercial vehicle leasing and hiring companies access to the TAN 21 computer system in order that they can avoid hiring a goods vehicle to a person who does not hold the appropriate operator's licence.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We agree that it is desirable, as a matter of good practice, for commercial vehicle hiring and leasing companies to check that customers produce satisfactory documentation about their licence status. In addition, the Traffic Area Network (TAN) is examining ways of enabling those companies to verify the information, including the option of placing an extract of the TAN 21 licence database on the TAN's proposed website.

Goods Vehicles

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is realistic to expect commercial vehicle leasing and hiring companies constantly to monitor Applications and Decisions published by each of the traffic commissioners in order to avoid hiring a goods vehicle to a person who does not hold the appropriate operator's licence.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Applications and Decisions publication gives a snap-shot of recent activity on goods vehicle operator licensing in a specific part of the country but it does not provide a comprehensive list of the licences in issue. I refer the noble Earl to my Answer given today to his other Question (HL3258) on ways of checking the licence status of operators.

Goods Vehicles

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	At what point it will be possible for a goods vehicle operator electronically to notify his traffic area office of the addition of a hire vehicle to his fleet and for the hirer to be able to confirm that notification electronically before releasing the vehicle.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The facility for operators to notify vehicle changes on goods vehicle operator licences electronically will be piloted in the spring. Depending on the results of that pilot, the service will be progressively rolled out to all licence holders during the summer. In order to guard against the risk of one of its vehicles being impounded a hire company need only satisfy itself that its customer has an operator's licence. I refer the noble Earl to my Answer given today to his other Question (HL3258).

Vauxhall Cross

Lord Hayhoe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What traffic objective will be met by the alteration and changes being undertaken at Vauxhall Cross in the London Borough of Lambeth.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This is a matter for the Mayor of London and Transport for London. Further information may be obtained from:
	Peter Brown
	Assistant Director of Street Management Services
	TfL Street Management
	Windsor House
	42-50 Victoria Street
	London SW1H 0TL

London Congestion Charging: Adequate Public Transport

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the absence of any improvement to London Underground, the commitment made by the Mayor for London of additional buses will be considered in order to satisfy their assurance that congestion charging would not be introduced in London until there was sufficient transport to carry the additional passengers.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The congestion charging scheme is the responsibility of the Mayor of London and Transport for London. It is for them to satisfy themselves that adequate public transport will be available when the scheme is introduced.

Twinning Arrangements with Foreign Municipalities

Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they have given to local authorities on twinning arrangements with foreign municipalities.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: While we recognise the value of effective partnerships between strong and active local communities which can play a real part in increasing understanding between the peoples of Europe and the wider world, we have issued no guidance to local authorities on this. The Local Government International Bureau, and in Scotland the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, facilitate links between UK local authorities and authorities worldwide.

Local Authorities: Financial Reporting Standards

Lord Higgins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent they estimate the introduction of the Accounting Standards Board's Financial Reporting Standard 17 will have an effect on local authority pension funds; and
	To what extent they estimate the introduction of Accounting Standard Board's Financial Reporting Standard 17 will increase council taxes.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Under revisions to the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting which are being prepared by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and discussed with the Accounting Standards Board (ASB), the introduction of Financial Reporting Standard 17 will have no effect on local authority budgets or their pension funds, which will continue to be governed in accordance with the existing regulatory framework.

English Partnerships Review

Lord Graham of Edmonton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they propose to announce the outcome of stage one of the review of English Partnerships.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Today we are announcing the outcome of the first stage of the current review of English Partnerships (EP), together with appointment of the new chair of the organisation.
	The new chair of English Partnerships is to be Margaret Ford. She has extensive experience in economic development and of working with government organisations within the UK and internationally. She has particular experience of leading organisations though periods of considerable change. We are confident that Margaret Ford is the right person to lead EP into its new role.
	EP will become the Secretary of State's expert adviser on brownfield regeneration, managing a national portfolio of strategic sites and managing demonstration projects. EP will work with national, regional and local partners, especially the RDAs, and the private sector to identify strategic brownfield land and prioritise and facilitate its development. There is a continuing remit for EP as a national public sector body and as a vital component of the Government's programme for achieving an urban renaissance.
	To sharpen the organisation's focus on brownfield regeneration, we intend EP progressively to transfer its non-strategic Commission for the New Towns (CNT) landholdings to other appropriate bodies, for example the local authority.
	In the spirit of the two Green Papers we published last year setting out fundamental changes to local government and the planning system, EP will relinquish the use of its planning powers in the former new town areas, bringing control over the development of these areas under the democratic control of their local councils. This will be a staged process.
	As part of stage two of review, we want to resolve the problems that have arisen in the past from the dual statutory function of the former Urban Regeneration Agency and the Commission for the New Towns. This will give EP a common purpose and help it in taking forward its changed agenda.
	I am today placing in the Library of the House the report on stage one of the review, including the KPMG consultation report and key areas to be addressed in stage two. There is still important work to be done and we will continue to listen to and work with the widest range of interested organisations.

Water Course Pollution Prosecutions

Lord Pilkington of Oxenford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will provide a comparison of the annual number of water course pollution prosecutions carried out by the predecessor water authorities and those inaugurated by the Environment Agency.

Lord Whitty: The Environment Agency has a robust enforcement and prosecution policy that results in a significant number of prosecutions being taken out each year.
	Annual reports on water pollution incidents, including numbers of prosecutions taken, are published by the Environment Agency and previously by is predecessor, the National Rivers Authority. These reports are available in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The following table summarises the information available in these reports for the years 1990 to 2000. For the years 1990 to 1999 the information recorded relates to pollution incidents that occurred in each year irrespective of the date of the court hearing. Following a change of reporting practice, information for the year 2000 relates to the cases brought to court in that year.
	Information on prosecutions prior to 1989, when the National Rivers Authority took over from its predecessor water authorities, can only be made available at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Year 1990–94 NRA 1995–2000 EA Number of Incidents Prosecuted Number of Convictions Number of Cautions issued 
			 1990 592 553 not available 
			 1991 488 470 55 
			 1992 425 401 250 
			 1993 364 338 206 
			 1994 320 310 193 
			 1995 280 275 149 
			 1996 243 238 69 
			 1997 254 236 49 
			 1998 241 236 73 
			 1999 230 227 113 
			 2000 235 224 217

Packaging Waste: Recovery and Recycling

Lord Williams of Elvel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the new recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste for 2002 that they have decided on.

Lord Whitty: New business recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste in 2002 under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) have been agreed by the Government. Subject to the approval of Parliament, these are as follows: Recovery 59 per cent Material-specific recycling 19 per cent.
	The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 were made to enable the UK to meet its obligations under the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste, in particular the recovery and recycling targets in article 6 of that directive. The first targets that we and other member states had to achieve in 2001 under the Packaging Waste Directive were that at least 50 per cent of packaging waste be recovered, at least 25 per cent recycled and 15 per cent of each packaging material recycled.
	On the assumption that the UK met these targets last year (and final figures are not yet ready), the targets I am proposing today should allow almost 5 million tonnes of packaging waste to be recovered in 2002.
	The department has, as was indicated in the recent consultation paper on targets for 2002, reviewed the figures that were used to develop the targets for 2002 in that paper and in light of the changes in the amount of packaging data reported by businesses obligated under the packaging regulations and the estimates for the tonnages expected to be obligated in 2002, the Government have decided on a recovery target of 59 per cent and a material-specific target of 19 per cent.
	As in previous years, the national targets for next year need to be seen as leading on to higher targets and the ones proposed by the Government should allow the UK to plan a smooth upward curve towards higher recovery and recycling targets over the next few years.

Water Industry

Lord Morgan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they are making with their review of competition in the water industry in England and Wales.

Lord Whitty: On 30 March 2001 (HC, Deb col 832W) my right honourable friend the Minister of State for the environment informed the House in another place that the Government had decided to boost the opportunities for competition in public water services in England and Wales. We proposed that the incumbent water companies would remain vertically integrated statutory undertakers, while new entrants would be licensed for production and retail activities. Since then, Defra has undertaken further detailed work on the future framework, in close collaboration with other government departments, the National Assembly for Wales and the three principal regulators of the water industry: Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Environment Agency.
	Competition can deliver benefits for customers through keener prices, more innovation and improved service quality. But competition must be consistent with the Government's wider policy objectives for the water industry. It is important for the framework and scope of any further competitive activity to be tailored to the particular circumstances of the industry and the needs of its customers.
	After thorough consideration, we propose to extend competition for non-household customers that use large quantities of water. Market entrants will be authorised to enter into common carriage agreements with statutory undertakers to supply premises which use more than a specified threshold of water per year. We propose that this should be set initially at 50 megalitres, based on the evidence currently available. Work is under way to assess the likely effects of lower threshold levels both in terms of increasing competitive opportunity and the Government's wider policy objectives for the water industry. Views will be invited on the threshold in a forthcoming consultation paper. This further analysis, the views received in response to consultation and consideration of the implications for all customers will inform any final decisions on the initial threshold to be introduced in England and Wales.
	Any subsequent lowering of the initial threshold will be considered once we have the benefit of practical experience to draw on. We would consult publicly on any proposed change and the same considerations would apply as in the case of the initial threshold. From the outset, new entrants to the industry will be expected to co-operate with the statutory undertakers in preparing and implementing water resource, security and emergency planning.
	We have considered very carefully whether to introduce competition now for household customers. We have concluded that extending competition to the domestic water sector, while at the same time seeking to ensure that the Government's public health, social and environmental objectives continued to be met, would require a complex and costly regulatory regime which would still leave substantial uncertainties. The added complexity would militate against effective competition and the extra costs would have to be borne mainly by customers. In our view, these drawbacks are likely to outweigh the potential benefits.
	Household and other customers can continue to rely on the present system of comparative competition operated by Ofwat to encourage water companies to improve efficiency and their services. Average household customers are now paying 13 per cent less than in 1999, a reduction of £33 in real terms.
	We shall be publishing a consultation paper with further details of our proposals later this year. As previously announced, our intention is to introduce a water Bill to bring these changes into effect. The draft Bill also contains proposals to put customers at the heart of the regulatory process, including setting up an independent consumer body to be the voice of consumers.

Employment and Social Policy Council, 7 March

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the outcome was of the Employment and Social Policy Council held in Brussels on 7 March and what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including their voting record.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Malcolm Wicks) represented the UK at the Employment and Social Policy Council in Brussels on 7 March, together with the Minister of State for Employment Relations and the regions, my honourable friend the Member for Hull West and Hessle (Alan Johnson).
	The main business of this Council was a debate in preparation for the forthcoming European Council in Barcelona. The Spanish Presidency issued its own conclusions. The UK supported the key themes of improved co-ordination of economic and employment policy and the importance of aligning the new European employment strategy with the Lisbon goal of full employment. Member states recognised the need to integrate disadvantaged groups, particularly older workers, into the labour market to achieve this goal and acknowledged the vital role played by lifelong learning in achieving the Lisbon targets.
	Council also held an open debate on violence against women which formed the basis of Presidency Conclusions for Barcelona. There was consensus on the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to this issue, with broad agreement on the use of good practice guides and annual awareness raising campaigns at a European level. The fortcoming Danish Presidency will take forward this work in the context of the Council's annual follow-up of the member states' implementation of their commitments under the Beijing Platform for Action, including discussions on the necessity for, and potential scope of, indicators in this field.
	The Presidency sought an outline position on the proposal for a directive updating the existing directive on the protection of workers from the risks of exposure to asbestos, pending the adoption by the European Parliament of its first reading opinion. After a debate, which hinged on a proposal to include a general ban on asbestos within the directive, the dossier was remitted to COREPER for further work.
	The Council also heard a progress report on negotiations for the draft directive supplementing the proposed regulation for a statute on a European co-operative society in respect of employee involvement. Work will continue on this dossier in COREPER.
	Among the other agenda items discussed, the Council approved the work programmes for the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee for 2002.
	The Presidency noted that the UN 2nd World Conference on Ageing would be held in Madrid in April. A Commission communication will be produced as a contribution shortly.
	The Presidency reported on a series of seminars and events that have taken place since the beginning of their Presidency.
	No votes were taken at this Council.

Devolution in the Regions: White Paper

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the planned publication date of the White Paper on devolution in the regions of England has been put back from March 2002; and, if so, when they now expect to publish it.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The White Paper will be presented to Parliament as soon as it is ready.

Intelligence Service: Counter Terrorism Expenditure

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much money has been allocated to the Intelligence Services since 11 September 2001.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Winter Supplementary Estimates for the Security and Intelligence Agencies (Cm 5333, placed in the House Libraries on 28 November 2001) increased the departmental expenditure limit for financial year 2001–02 from £879,069,000 to £891,833,000. The Spring Supplementary Estimates for the Security and Intelligence Agencies (Cm 5382, placed in the House Libraries on 14 February 2002) further increased the departmental expenditure limit to £899,354,000 and stated that this would include £53,725,000 drawn from the Treasury Reserve for further counter-terrorism work.

Public Bodies: Appointment of Women

Baroness Thomas of Walliswood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the percentage of (a) paid and (b) unpaid appointments to non-departmental public bodies made to women in each year since 1997.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Information on the gender and remuneration of the chair and members of the board of public bodies is set out in the annual publication Public Bodies, copies of which are also in the Library of the House. lynne

Health Tourism

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are taking to promote health tourism at spas in the United Kingdom; and
	What estimate they have made of the contribution of health tourism at spas to the economy of the United Kingdom.

Baroness Blackstone: The Government's intention to promote innovative niche markets, such as health tourism, was set out in Tomorrow's Tourism. The English Tourism Council has also recently published, Health Benefits: the market opportunities for health tourism in England, which highlighted the potential for growth of health tourism in the UK. The report identified that health tourism is worth £6 billion a year, £1.4 billion of which comes from spa breaks.

UNESCO Convention: UK Accession

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the speech of Lord Davies of Oldham on 4 March (HL Deb, col 28), what are the legal and policy issues which need clarification in consultation within the Government before the accession of the United Kingdom to the UNESCO Convention can be completed.

Baroness Blackstone: There were a number of complex legal and policy issues raised by the UNESCO Convention that needed to be resolved before the formal process of accession could start, particularly in respect of Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10. All these issues have now been resolved and I have authorised the commencement of the formal process of accession. The convention will be published as a Command Paper, together with an Explanatory Memorandum, and these will be laid before Parliament for 21 sitting days. It is anticipated that the convention will be published before the end of April.

UNESCO Convention: UK Accession

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the speech of Lord Davies of Oldham on 4 March (HL Deb, col 28), what issues have had to be resolved to ensure that accession by the Government to the UNESCO Convention will be compatible with Scottish legislation.

Baroness Blackstone: Accession to the UNESCO Convention takes effect across the whole of the United Kingdom. It was necessary to ensure that there were equivalent measures under Scots law to those measures under English law that had been identified as satisfying the requirements of the convention. This process has now been completed. lynne

Stonehenge

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that sufficient funds are available for the appropriate protection of the Stonehenge, Avebury and associated sites world heritage site, as required under Article 151, paragraph 2, of the treaty establishing the European Community.[HL3199].

Baroness Blackstone: Article 151 of the EC treaty does not impose any requirements for action on individual member states. That article is concerned with defining the scope of Community action in the field of culture and cultural heritage.
	As I explained to the noble Lord in my Written Answer of 5 March (WA 8), the Government take very seriously their responsibilities under the World Heritage Convention for the 24 world heritage sites situated in this country and its overseas territories. The Government have taken an active role in the establishment and implementation of management plans for the Stonehenge and Avebury parts of that world heritage site which identify and address the key issues affecting its current and future condition. Within the framework provided by the Stonehenge management plan, the Government are fully involved in the ongoing disucussions about the Stonehenge master plan proposals for a new road layout and visitor centre in the immediate environs of the world heritage site.
	The improvement of the A303 at Stonehenge is included in the Government's targeted programme of trunk road schemes (TPI) and its primary objective is exceptional environmental improvement. The scheme, which includes a 2km tunnel, is currently estimated to cost in the region of £130 million and will be funded jointly by the Highways Agency and English Heritage.

Tower of London

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many staff are employed at the Tower of London.

Baroness Blackstone: The total number of staff permanently employed at the Tower of London is 229. This comprises 198 staff employed by Historic Royal Palaces Trust, 21 staff by the Ministry of Defence and 10 staff by the Royal Armouries. As well as public sector employees, there are 67 people employed by contractors of Historic Royal Palaces Trust for duties at the Tower.

Government Loans

Baroness Howells of St Davids: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the Performance and Innovation Unit report on modernising government loans.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Performance and Innovation Unit's report Lending Support - Modernising the Government's Use of Loans is being published today. The key conclusions of the report are:
	it sets out a new framework with criteria that will help consistent judgments to be made on when loans are more appropriate to use than alternatives such as grants;
	most existing government loans, and similar types of support, score well under these criteria;
	the framework has been demonstrated by applying it to a number of illustrative case studies such as the example of a government loan for unemployed people who wish to set up in self-employment;
	it announces a feasibility study looking into the longer-term opportunities offered by greater joining up of the administration of all forms of citizens' debts to government and financial transactions more generally. This will report to Ministers, who will decide whether or not to commission further work.
	Copies of the report have been placed in the Printed Paper Office and the Library.